Modern Languages and Literatures – Italian
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Interim Dean: Dr. Sophie Clavier
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/italian-program
Chair: Charles Egan
Program Coordinator: Olivia Albiero
Undergraduate Advisor: Olivia Albiero
Graduate Advisor: Olivia Albiero
Program Scope
The Italian program offers courses in the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Italian; a broad and comprehensive background in literature, culture, civilization, and Italian studies as well as preparation for a specialized career. Many students study Italian to become language teachers. Others, studying music, art, film, archaeology, international relations, history, business, and comparative literature, as well as students planning to become translators and interpreters, have discovered the usefulness of Italian. Some take Italian purely for cultural enrichment. The study of Italian is particularly rewarding for those of Italian heritage. It also opens the doors to the CSU International Program Center in Florence, to various Italian art and professional academies, and to Italian universities where students can pursue studies in any field.
Associate Professor
Olivia Albiero (2016), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of Washington.
ITAL 100 First Semester Italian for Speakers of English and Spanish (Units: 4)
Designed especially for those who already speak Spanish and English, though it is open to all students. Understanding, speaking, reading and writing the Italian language. Basic elements of Italian culture. Acquisition of communicative skills in situational and cultural contexts.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
- C2: Humanities
ITAL 101 First Semester Italian (Units: 4)
Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Italian and Italian culture; language as a communicative medium and carrier of culture.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 102 Second Semester Italian (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: ITAL 101 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 103 Third Semester Italian (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 104 Fourth Semester Italian (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 103 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 206 Italian Conversation (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or equivalent. May be taken concurrently with ITAL 103 or ITAL 104.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
ITAL 250 Food for Thought: The Importance of Food in Italian Culture (Units: 3)
Focus on the significance of food in Italian society and culture and its representations in literature, art, and film. Exploration of how Italian food relates to questions of history, politics, economy, identity, and movement. Taught in English. All materials are available in English.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
- C2: Humanities
ITAL 305 Advanced Grammar and Composition (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.
ITAL 350 Advanced Oral and Reading Practice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
ITAL 401 Italian Culture and Civilization (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.
ITAL 500 Topics in Italian Literature and Culture (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area E or permission of the instructor.
Topics:
- New Voices in Italian Literature
- Crime in Italian Literature & Film
- Italian Journeys: Writing Travels in Lit & Culture
ITAL 510 Italian Literature: Early Period (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.
ITAL 511 Italian Literature: Late Period (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.
ITAL 525 Literature of the Risorgimento (Units: 3)
Analysis of texts from representative figures such as Parini, Alfieri, Foscolo, Leopardi, Manzoni, etc.ITAL 530 Renaissance Prose/Poetry (Units: 3)
Analysis of selected readings from representative prose writers and poets of the Italian Renaissance (Machiavelli, Guicciadini, Castiglione, Poliziano, Ariosto, for example). Focus on dominating ideas, trends. Attention also given to social, political, and artistic background.ITAL 550 The Italian Theatre (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ITAL 850: Italian MA students; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 550: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 850/ITAL 550 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 560 The Italian Novel (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 570 Italian Women Writers: 13th to 20th Centuries (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ITAL 870: Graduate standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 570: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 870/ITAL 570 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 580 Great Figures in Italian Literature (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
Topics:
- Sciascia/Ginzburg/Calvino/Morazzoni
- Moravia, Buzzati, Pavese, Morante
ITAL 581 Divina Commedia (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ITAL 881: Italian MA students or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 581: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 881/ITAL 581 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 600 Italian Literature on Film in English (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area E.
ITAL 600GW Italian Literature on Film - GWAR (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division Italian majors; GE Area A2; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
- Global Perspectives
ITAL 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.
ITAL 830 Seminar: Italian Literature of the 19th Century (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Admission to Italian program or consent of instructor.
ITAL 850 The Italian Theatre (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ITAL 850: Italian MA students; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 550: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 850/ITAL 550 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 870 Italian Women Writers: 13th to 20th Centuries (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ITAL 870: Graduate standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 570: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 870/ITAL 570 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 880 Seminar: Individual Authors (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Admission to Italian program or permission of instructor.
Topics:
- Luigi Pirandello
- The Italian Short Story
- Giovanni Verga (Verismo)
- Boccaccio
- Migliorini and Devoto
- Italo Calvino
- Petrarch and Trecento
ITAL 881 Divina Commedia (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ITAL 881: Italian MA students or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 581: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ITAL 881/ITAL 581 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ITAL 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
ITAL 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: Italian Graduate students; permission of the graduate major adviser and supervising faculty member; or consent of the instructor.